nded
it as a mother does her baby. The monkey was happy, but Mr. Mason did
not think the rat liked it very well.

Fred put one orange in his side pocket. He could not wait until he got
home to eat the other. As he walked along among the cages he seemed to
care more for the fruit than for the animals. He sucked the orange
with all his might till he came to a cage with three monkeys in it.

One of them looked very sober and solemn. One opened his mouth and
seemed to be laughing. All of them looked at Fred and held out their
hands.

They could not talk; if they could they would have said, "Go halves!"

The orange was nice and sweet; Fred did not wish to "go halves." He
turned away, for he did not like to be asked for that which he was not
willing to give. The monkeys put their hands out for some of the
oranges, but Fred looked the other way.

Fred should have looked at the monkeys, for the one nearest to him put
out his long arm and snatched the orange from his hand. Fred tried to
get it again. While he was doing so, the solemn monkey reached down
and took the orange from his pocket. Fred did not think how near he
was to the cage.

Fred began to cry. The laughing monkey had no orange. He was afraid of
the solemn monkey, but he chased the one that had stolen the orange
Fred was eating all over the cage. He got it at last.

Fred's father bought two more oranges for him, and he did not go near
the cages again.

MARY BLOOM.

[Illustration: "GO HALVES!"]

[Illustration: {CHILDREN PLAY RING-AROUND-A-ROSY.}]

LITTLE GAMES.

"Ring--a--round--a--rosy!"
Cheeks just like a posy;
Eyes that twinkle with delight,--
Could there be a fairer sight?
Little feet that dance in glee;
Voices singing merrily.
Won't you stop a little while?
At my question you will smile:
"Rosy I have never seen,--
Tell me, is she some fair queen?
Have your lily hands now crowned her,
While you formed a ring around her?

"Why 'draw buckets of water
For my lady's daughter'?
Has she spoiled her pretty dress?
Ah! to wash her face, I guess!
Very hard 'tis to unravel
What is meant, dears, by 'green gravel.'
Then, you say, 'How barley grows
You, nor I, nor nobody knows;'
Oats, peas, beans, too, you include:
If the question be not rude,
Darlings, tell why this is done."
"Ha! ha!" laugh they; "it's such fun!"